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Czuprynska Takes Her First Women’s Euro-Tour Title

Oliwia Czuprynska

Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) just won the Dynamic Billard Treviso Open Women’s Euro-Tour event with a convincing 7:2 victory over Kateryna Polovinchuk (UKR) in the final match.

 

Czuprynska had the better roll of the balls in the final. Leading 3:2, she missed an 8-ball but the cue ball went snookered behind the 9-ball, leaving no shot for her opponent. Polovinchuk tried to hit the 8-ball over one rail and succeeded in doing so but the cue ball scratched in the side pocket. That brought Czuprynska to 4:2. Later on in the match, Czuprynska grew stronger while Polovinchuk obviously seemed to struggle to get going. Whatever the Ukrainian tried, she could not come up with something to put into her account. Trailing 2:5, Polovinchuk tried a kiss shot off the 1-ball and pocket the 9-ball. She did not make it; to the contrary, she left the 9-ball having over the pocket for Czuprynska who accepted the gift and went on the hill with a 6:2 lead. The final rack again was determined by the strong play of Czuprynska who finally pocketed the final 9-ball and won the match and the tournament with 7:2.

 

"I am so happy", stated Czuprynska, "this is my first victory in a Women’s Euro-Tour event. I am now looking forward to making it to the World Championships again and maybe finish with a 9th place or better", added Czuprynska.

 

Earlier today, Polovinchuk took care of two major upsets in the event. She ousted former Champion Monica Webb (USA) with 7:5 in the loser’s qualification round. Then she went on and defeated European star player Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) with 7:6 in the round of the last 16 players. In the quarter-finals, Polovinchuk took care of Kristina Tkach.

 

Top Eight Finishers Dynamic Billard Treviso Open 2015 Women’s Euro-Tour

1. Oliwia Czuprynska (POL)

2. Kateryna Polovinchuk (UKR)

3. Ina Kaplan (GER)
Marika Poikkijoki (FIN)

5. Sara Rocha (POR)
Kristina Tkach (RUS)
Sandra Baumgartner (AUT)
Line Kjoersvik (NOR)

 

Top Ten ranked players in the Women’s Euro-Tour rankings:

1. Nataliya Seroshtan 2220 pts

2. Sandra Baumgartner AUT 1900 pts
3. Caroline Roos SWE 1880 pts

4. Jennifer Vietz 1745 pts

5. Louise Furberg SWE 1740 pts

6. Veronika Ivanovskaia GER 1730 pts

7. Ine Helvik NOR 1680 pts

8. Ana Mazhirina RUS 1670 pts

9. Melanie Suessenguth GER 1645 pts

10. Barbara Bolfelli ITA 1630 pts

 

The event was hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website womeneurotouronline.com , or contact our press office.

Women’s World 9-Ball: The Final Four Reach For Pool Immortality

China’s Chen Simeng

Climactic final day looms as Korea's Ga Young Kim takes on China's Liu Shasha, while China's Chen Siming battles Taiwan's Tan Yo Hun at the Women's World 9-ball Championship

 

The 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship has come down to the final four, and with the biggest prize in women’s pool to be decided on what promises to be a dramatic Saturday in southern China, fans around the world are clearly in for a treat of the highest level.

 
In the first race to 9 semi-final, which begins at 12pm(GMT +8),  Korea’s Ga Young Kim will take on China’s Lui Shasha. The match will be a battle of former champions; Kim won the Women’s World 9-ball Championship in 2004 and 2006, while Lui won the title the first year the tournament was played in China in 2009 at the incredible age of just 16 years old.
 
The second semi-final, which will take place at 2pm, will feature China’s Chen Siming against Taiwanese veteran Tan Ho Yun.
 
The race to 11 final will begin at 6pm Guilin time.
 
It was a grueling day of championship pool as the field was whittled down from 32 players to four players over three tough sessions. Actually for Kim and Liu, their round of 32 match was played the night before so they only had to play two matches today. But their road to the semis was no less easy, especially for Kim.
 
The Korea superstar, who speaks fluent Mandarin and is quite famous throughout China, must feel more than a little charmed at this point, as she has been living on the edge of disaster over the last few days only to miraculously survive and find herself on the cusp of her third 9-ball crown. In her round of 32 match the night before against China’s Wang Xiao Tong, Kim was all but out of the tournament as Wang got down on a straight in 9-ball to win the match. Incredibly the Chinese missed and Kim stole the rack, then won the next rack to advance to the round of 16.
 
Kim came out today and played solid in a 9-5 win over Japan’s Akimi Kajatani. But she was then faced with the prospect of moving over to the TV table to play defending champion Han Yu of China. The clinical Han had looked untouchable up to this point and had just destroyed one of China’s biggest stars, Fu Xiao Fang, 9-3, to move into the quarters.
 
Against the merciless Han, Kim jumped out to a 2-0 lead but then saw Han move up by 2. Han continued to hold off Kim the rest of the way until Kim finally caught up to tie at 8-8 and force a sudden death decider. In a pressure packed last rack, the pair handed over the table several times but it was Kim who grabbed the last 9-ball and a hard won spot in the semi-finals.
 
Kim will now have to face another Chinese superstar in Lui Shasha. The 21 year old has, as usual, looked unflappable all week and she played that way today. She first outlasted 14 year old fellow Chinese Jiang Teng, 9-5. Liu then did the same to the surprising Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu of Indonesia. The 29 year old Ticaolu showed a huge heart this week and her spot in the quarters is the best that any Indonesian player has ever achieved in a world championship. But Liu was in no mood to be kind and took over the match halfway and won 9-5.
 
Afterward a smiling Liu informed the surprised media throng that she hasn’t been feeling 100% throughout the week in Guilin.
 
“I feel so relieved right now,” Liu said. “From day one until right now I haven’t felt that good on the table. I don’t think I’m playing very well. It’s just a huge relief right now and I feel very very happy.”
 
Although Liu has won this event once before back in 2009, she said there is a world of difference between then and now.
 
“Five years ago before I won the title I’m nobody so back then I was just playing for fun and there was no pressure,” she said.  “But right now I have a lot of pressure from the national team, from my family, from all the fans and even from myself.  My coach told me to try and change all the pressure, to use it to my advantage, just try and stay positive and not worry so much. I just have to control my emotion, stay focused and get excited about the pressure.”
 
Liu, at least, can always remind herself in times of trouble that she has won the big one before, which is something at her fellow national team member Chen Siming can’t do.  Not yet anyway.
 
Of all the world class talent that China has produced, close observers of the game here over the last five years are near unanimous in declaring Chen as perhaps the greatest natural talent of them all. Her fluid stroke and dead eyed potting skills are a thing of beauty to behold. But the 21 year old Chen has yet to fulfill the promise that so many have invested in her by winning the big one. On top of this, she has watched as her fellow teammates like Liu, Fu and Han have grabbed the world crown, while she has had to endure a series of bitter disappointments. In 2011 Chen reached the finals only to lose to eventual champion and teammate Bi Ju Qing.
 
Over the last three days, however, Chen has looked as solid as ever and fans have been quietly whispering that perhaps this year might be her time to shine. She certainly looked the goods today with three terrific performances. Chen first routed Germany’s  Jasmin Michel 9-3. Next she handily beat a very solid Chou Chieh Yu of Taiwan. In the quarters she also squeezed the air out of another tough Taiwanese,  Wei Tzu Chien, 9-5. 
 
With a semis spot in the bag, Chen was more than ready for the inevitable “Can she finally do it?” questions from the media scrum. Her answers indicated a self-belief that perhaps wasn’t there a few years back.
 
“Of course tomorrow the pressure and tension will be totally different from the rest of the week,” Chen said. “But I will adjust myself and I’ll be ready. I don’t really care who my opponent is, I just have to play my own game.
 
“Every time before when I lost a big tournament I just use it as a learning experience to come back better the next time. So I was never really disappointed. I just keep practicing hard. So we will have to see what the answer to that is tomorrow.  
 
“The biggest difference with me from before is my attitude. Before I always think and worry about the competitor, and how she plays and I’m not even thinking about myself.  Now I don’t think about who my opponent is. I just focus on the table and focus on myself and my game. “
 
That certainly appears to be good advice because Chen’s opponent, Tawain’s Tan Ho Yun, has the luxury of being able to play under the radar. And Tan has got serious game as she reached the quarter finals here the last two years, and has now beaten her best by grabbing a semis spot this year.
 
The 31 year old from Khaosiung in southern Taiwan put in a workman-like performance today first taking down Japan’s Masami Nouchi, 9-3, then three time former champ Alison Fisher, 9-5, before coming back to beat China’s Zhou Doudou by the same score.
 
Afterward, the veteran Tan, who has been playing professionally for 16 years, revealed a little known fact that would indicate why she has not only played so well this week, but why she is brimming with confidence and feels she can finally go all the way. She spent the last month being mentored by none other than 2000 World 9-ball Champion, Fong Pang Chao, aka “the cold faced killer.”
 
‘I ask him why I lose every time,” Tan said. “He told me just find the best line, the best path to take the ball.  A lot of times, I picked the second best path, or the third best. But he showed me how to find the best path, how to think. He said if you find your best path, you can just relax and you can win. He is a world champion. His mind is amazing. It’s very clear when he plays and he taught me how to keep a clear mind.
 
“I wish I can win tomorrow. I just have to do it, for my coach Fong Pang Chao.”
 
*Fans around the world can watch both semi-finals and the final live online via CCTV(China State Television) at this link: http://news.top147.com/2014/10/00019105.shtml
 
**The 2014 Women’s World 9-ball will be held in Guilin, China from October 13-18, and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool.  64 women players from across the globe will compete for the biggest prize in Women’s Pool.  
 
The WPA  will be on hand in Guilin throughout the week bringing you all the drama from the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship. WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner will be reporting with daily articles containing insight and analysis, as well as photos. Ted will also be manning the WPA Facebook page and Twitter feed and responding to fans queries and comments. Fans can also follow all matches via the WPA live scoring platform.   
 
Please visit the WPA Facebook page for the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship here; http://www.facebook.com/pages/2013-WPA-Womens-World-9-ball-Championship/360470447416060?ref=hl
 
Follow the WPA on Twitter:  @poolwpa
 
Visit the official website of the WPA at www.wpapool.com
 
SEMI-FINALS
Race to 9
Saturday, October 18, 2014
 
12 PM(GMT+8)
Ga Young Kim(KOR) vs.  Liu Shasha(CHN) 
 
2 PM
Chen Siming(CHN) vs. Tan Ho Yun(TPE)
 
FINAL
Race to 11
6PM
 
RESULTS QUARTERFINALS
Ga Young Kim(KOR)  9 – 8 Han Yu(CHN)   
Liu Shasha(CHN)  9 – 5 Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu(INA)
Chen Siming(CHN) 9 – 5 Wei Tzu Chien(TPE)
Tan Ho Yun(TPE) 9 – 5 Zhou Doudou(CHN)   
 
RESULTS FINAL 16
Ga Young Kim(KOR)  9 – 5 Akimi Kajatani(JPN)   
Han Yu(CHN) 9 – 3 Fu Xiao Fang(CHN)
Liu Shasha(CHN)  9 – 5 Jiang Teng(CHN)    
Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu(INA) 9 – 4 Kuo Azu Tinh(TPE)
Chen Siming(CHN) 9 – 3 Chou Chieh-yu(TPE)  
Wei Tzu Chien(TPE) 9 – 8 Pan Xiaoting(CHN)      
Tan Ho Yun(TPE) 9 – 5  Allison Fisher(GBR)
Zhou Doudou(CHN) 9 – 8  Karen Corr(GBR) 
 
RESULTS FINAL 32, 2ND HALF 
Chen Siming(CHN) 9 – 3 Jasmin Michel(GER)
Chou Chieh-yu(TPE) 9- 6 Charlene Chai Zeet Huey(SIN)
Pan Xiaoting(CHN) 9 – 2 Jeanette Lee(USA)
Wei Tzu Chien(TPE) 9 – 7 Tsai Pei Chen(TPE)  
Tan Ho Yun(TPE) 9 – 3  Masami Nouchi(JPN)
Allison Fisher(GBR) 9 – 7 Wu Zhi Ting(TPE)
Zhou Doudou(CHN) 9 – 4 Caroline Roos(SWE)
Karen Corr(GBR)  9 – 5 Chen Xue(CHN) 

Round of 32 Begins in a Wild Ride

Xiao Fang Fu

With the knockout stages underway at the Women's World 9-ball Championship in Guilin, China, the pressure is already proving too much to bear for some players.

 
If you like your pool to resemble a roller coaster ride with plenty of hair raising twists and turns, then the next two days here at the Women’s World 9-ball Championship in Guilin in southern China will surely be everything you could have ever wanted.
 
This prediction is based on the drama that transpired today inside the Guilin gym, where Judgement Day jitters affected not only the wannabes, but even the sport’s biggest stars. Even straight in 9-balls normally made a thousand out of thousand times in practice were bobbling in the jaws under the intense pressure.
 
The first order of play today was to trim the field down to 32 where the players would switch to a single elimination knockout, race to 9. (If anyone had any doubts that Asia is the dominant region in pool, they were erased when eyeing who made it through to the Final 32: all but 5 players were from Asia.)
 
After the draw and a break for dinner, the first 8 matches in the last 32 commenced. As could be expected things didn’t get any easier as the surprises and missteps continued like a domino effect throughout the arena.  
 
Korea’s Ga Young Kim, certainly one of the top five favorites to win here this week, escaped out of her group with narrow 7-6 win over former world champion Shin Mei Lu of Taiwan. In the single elimination round of 32, Kim came up against young and talented Chinese player Wang Xiao Tong. The multi-awarded Kim was a clear favorite, but this event is no ordinary tournament. When Kim found herself in her chair down 8-7 in the race to 9, and Wang shooting a very makeable 9-ball for the win, the Korean star must have known it was curtains. Incredibly Wang missed the easy 9-ball as the crowd gasped in horror. Kim won the rack and then won the decider to stumble into the last 16.
 
2012 champion Kelly Fisher had a day she won’t soon forget, although she’d probably prefer to get a case of amnesia about now. Up 6-4 in a race to 7 in the last match of her group, Fisher missed a 9-ball to qualify, then watched opponent Wu Jing of China storm back. With the match in hand, Wu missed a near straight in 9-ball for the win. Fisher escaped into the final 32.
 
There she met up with arch rival and 2010 World 9-ball Champion, Fu Xiao Fang. This match screamed “Marquee!” and was rightfully played on the TV table, and shown on China state television channel, CCTV, to an audience numbering in the millions.
 
With several miracle escapes behind her, Fisher freewheeled it and put on a brilliant show, holding a commanding 8-5 lead in the race to 9 match. Fu, however, clawed back to tie to force a pressure packed one rack decider. The Brit’s wild ride of a tournament finally came to an end as Fu grabbed the last rack and advanced as Fisher was sent packing.
 
Taiwan’s Kuo Azu Tinh is relatively new the scene but had the Philippines’ Rubilen Amit down 8-5 in their round of 32 match. But with one rack to go, Kuo looked like she was caught in one of those bad nightmares where the prize keeps getting further and further away. Up 8-7, Kuo had a straight in 9-ball for the win but, like others before her, the 9 bobbled in the jaws. Showing her mettle, however, Kuo broke and ran the final rack and advanced to the final 16.
 
It wasn’t all drama, tension and tragic near misses today.  Defending champion Han Yu continued to show why she is still the favorite to win with two scorching performances.  Han first beat fellow Chinese Gao Meng 7-1 to win her group. In the round of 32 , Han  toyed with Singapore’s Hoe Sur Wah, winning 9-1.
 
Han, the world’s number one ranked player, doesn’t exude quite the amount of glamour that the more famous Chinese stars such as Pan Xiao ting and Fu Xiao Fang exhibit. But that seems to suit the low key red head just fine. Her play on the tables is downright clinical. After advancing to the round of 16 Han said that while she feels the pressure of the fans, she just sticks to what she knows best; practice, practice and more practice.
 
“There’s a lot of pressure on me but I just try and use the pressure to make me more active, to keep moving forward,” the 22 year old from Heibei province said through an interpreter.  “I’m not really playing perfect at the moment and I can know I can play better.
 
“After the World 9-ball last year I didn’t play well for a few months but the national team coach, Mr. Chen, taught me how to keep my emotions under control and to try to be more stable and try to control myself. I don’t like to think too much. I just try to stay focused.
 
“The only time I go out in public is when we are doing things for the national team or for my sponsors. The rest of the time I mostly hide somewhere private so I can practice more. I haven’t really gotten used to this life, to being in the spotlight. I’m a very low key person. “
 
China seems to produce an endless stream of pool talent these days and one youngster has really made her mark this year. 14 year old Jiang Teng—yes that’s right, 14 years old– won two straight matches in her group to qualify. She then came out in the round of 32 and took down former world 9-ball champion Liu Shin Mei, 9-5.
 
2009 champion Liu Shasha also advanced to the round of 16, as did Japan’s Akimi Kajatani and Indonesia’s Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu.
 
The second set of 8 matches in the round of 32 will begin on Friday at 1pm(GMT +8.) The TV table match is sure to draw tens of millions of fans from around China as the Chinese sporting legend Pan Xiaoting takes on the USA’s Jeanette Lee.
 
After Friday’s play, the field will be down to the Final Four. The semis and final will be played on Saturday.
 
The winner of the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Champion will received $40,000. The total prize fund is $300,000.
 
*The 2014 Women’s World 9-ball will be held in Guilin, China from October 13-18, and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool.  64 women players from across the globe will compete for the biggest prize in Women’s Pool.  
 
The WPA  will be on hand in Guilin throughout the week bringing you all the drama from the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship. WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner will be reporting with daily articles containing insight and analysis, as well as photos. Ted will also be manning the WPA Facebook page and Twitter feed and responding to fans queries and comments. Fans can also follow all matches via the WPA live scoring platform.   
 
Please visit the WPA Facebook page for the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship here; http://www.facebook.com/pages/2013-WPA-Womens-World-9-ball-Championship/360470447416060?ref=hl 
 
Follow the WPA on Twitter:  @poolwpa
 
Visit the official website of the WPA at www.wpapool.com
 
FINAL 32 
Single Elimination
Race to 9, Alternate Break
 
Thursday,  October 16, 2014, 8pm(GMT +8)
 
Akimi Kajatani(JPN) 9 – 7  Yu Ram Cha(KOR)
Ga Young Kim(KOR) 9 – 8 Wang Xiao Tong(CHN)  
Han Yu(CHN) 9 – 1 Hoe Sur Wah(SIN)
Fu Xiao Fang(CHN) 9 – 8 Kelly Fisher(GBR)
Jiang Teng(CHN) 9 – 5 Liu Shin Mei(TPE)
Liu Shasha(CHN) 9- 7 Gao Meng(CHN)   
Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu(INA) 9 – 7 Chihiro Kawahara(JPN)   
Kuo Azu Tinh(TPE) 9 – 8 Rubilen Amit(PHL)  
 
Friday, October 17, 1pm
 
Chen Siming(CHN) vs. Jasmin Michel(GER)
Chou Chieh-yu(TPE) vs. Charlene Chai Zeet Huey(SIN)
Pan Xiaoting(CHN) vs. Jeanette Lee(USA)
Tsai Pei Chen(TPE) vs. Wei Tzu Chien(TPE)
Tan Ho Yun(TPE) vs. Masami Nouchi(JPN)
Wu Zhi Ting(TPE) vs. Allison Fisher(GBR)
Zhou Doudou(CHN) vs. Caroline Roos(SWE)
Karren Corr(GBR)  vs. Chen Xue(CHN)
 
 
 
Results, Day 2 Winners Side Matches
 
Group A
Han Yu(CHN) 7 – 1  Gao Meng(CHN) 
Fu Xiaofang(CHN)  7 – 4 Yang Fan(CHN)  
 
Group B
Allison Fisher(GBR) 7 – 5  Jung Bo Ra(KOR)
Chou Chieh Yu(TPE) 7 – 5 Charlene Chai Zeet Huey(SIN)
 
Group C
Liu Shasha(CHN) 7 – 5 Ana Mazhirina(RUS) 
Karen Corr(GBR) 7 – 0 Joanne Ashton(CAN)
 
Group D
Tan Ho Yun(TPE)  7 – 4 Caroline Roos(SWE)
 
Group E
Rubilen Amit(PHL) 7 – 1 Hoe Shu Wan(SIN)
Akimi Kajatani(JPN) 7 – 1 Masami Nouchi(JPN)
 
Group F
Pan Xiaoting(CHN)  7 – 3 Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu(INA)
Kim Ga Young(KOR) 7 – 6 Liu Shin Mei(TPE)
 
Group G
Tsai Pei Chen(TPE) 7 – 3  Jasmin Michel(GER) 
Zhou Doudou(CHN  7 – 6  Wei Tzu-Chien(TPE)  
 
Group H
 Jiang Teng(CHN) 7 – 3 Wu Jing(CHN) 
Chichiro Kawahara(JPN)  7 – 2 Jeanette Lee(USA)     
 
 
 
RESULTS LOSERS SIDE MATCHES
Winner goes through. Loser is out.
 
Group A
Chen Xue(CHN) 7 – 6 Yang Fan(CHN)
Gao Meng(CHN) 7 – 6 Chezka Centeno(PHL) 
 
 
 
Group B
Charlene Chai Zeet Huey(SIN) 7 – 3 Jennifer Barretta(USA)  
Wang Xiao Tong(CHN)  7 – 4 Jung Bo Ra(KOR)
 
Group C
Kuo Azu Tinh(TPE)   7 – 4 Joanne Ashton(CAN)
Cha Yu Ram(KOR) 7 – 2 Ana Mazhirina(RUS)
 
Group D
Wu Zhi Ting(TPE) 7 – 1 Ine Helvik(NOR)  
Caroline Roos(SWE) 7 – 5  Ina Kaplan(GER)
 
Group E
Masami Nouchi(JPN) 7 – 4 Line Kjorsvik(NOR)
Hoe Shu Wan(SIN) 7 – 3 Daria Sirotina(RUS)
 
Group F
Liu Shin Mei(TPE) 7 – 5 Li Pei Rong(TPE) 
Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu(INA) 7 – 6  Kamila Khodjiaeva(BEL)    
 
Group G
Wei Tzu-Chien(TPE) 7 – 0 Brittany Bryant(CAN)
Jasmin Michel(GER) 7 – 5 Monica Webb(USA)
 
Group H
Kelly Fisher(GBR) 7 – 6 Wu Jing(CHN)  
Jeanette Lee(USA) 7 – 5 Denise Wilkinson(NZL)
 
 

Fisher Rises From The Depths

Kelly Fisher

Facing sudden elimination on Day 1, Great Britain's Kelly Fisher shows Austria's Jasmin Ouschan the door and survives to play another day at the Women's World 9-ball Championship

 

Kelly Fisher has been around professional pool long enough to know that sometimes in this sport, as in life, you have to go through hell to get to heaven.

 
Hell in this case for the 2012 World 9-ball Champion was losing her first round match on day 1 today at the Women’s World 9-ball Championship against hall of famer and pool’s most recognized personality, Jeanette Lee, 7-4. The Brit, who three months ago had open heart surgery to repair a congenital defect, had trouble with the lightning quick speed of the table. The match was even halfway, but Fisher gave away too many shots and the Black Widow waltzed. In the double elimination group stages, Fisher knew her back was suddenly against the wall.
 
“Now it’s cutthroat time,” she said while waiting for her next match which could see her go an embarrassing two-and-out. “There’s no second chances.”
 
If having to tangle with the likes of Lee wasn't enough, Fisher then had to step into the ring in a do or die match with none other than Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan, who had just lost a cliff hanger to Japan’s Chichiro Kawahara, 7-6. If you’re getting the idea that this is the proverbial “Group of Death,” you’re absolutely correct. All four of these players are capable of taking the world title.
 
With one of pool’s stars on the verge of taking a rapid road out of town, Fisher and Ouschan put on a splendid show. Ouschan stood in front of clear table down 6-5 but incredibly missed an easy 3-ball to hand Fisher the match, 7-5.
 
“Absolutely I’m relieved,” said the clearly delighted Brit afterward. “ I’m  not out of the woods yet but I’m really happy to have won that match. I would’ve really really hated to go two and out, especially in my first world event back. It was a flip of the coin between me and Jasmin. I certainly got the rolls on the break, as I was on a shot every time and she wasn’t.  It was very close. Every time I missed she punished me. Every time she missed, I punished her. It was a great match because so much was riding on it, so I expected a scrappy match.”
 
With a chance to move through to the final 32 single elimination knockout on Thursday, Fisher knew she had, for the moment , pulled the narrow escape. She was hoping the scare today would lead to something positive as, more often than not in pool, champions have had to go through death defying cliff hangers along the way before they move on to win.
 
Said Fisher: “When champions have won an event, it’s often through a tough route, something funky has happened.  Fingers crossed that that is my destiny. But I have to take it just one match at a time. “
 
Day 1 at the 2014 WPA Women’s World 9-ball Championship opened up just after lunch at the Guilin Gym in this beautiful city with all 64 players seeing action. The field is as good as this event has ever seen in its 23 editions as all 25 of the WPA’s top 25 women are here.  Combine this with the short races, and unpredictable table conditions and it was clear that anything could happen.
 
Defending champion Han Yu survived a scare from fellow Chinese player Chen Xue, barely winning, 7-6. The rest of China’s stars all won today, including 2007 World Champion and superstar Pan Xiaoting, 2009 World Champion Liu Shasha, 2010 Champion Fu Xiao Fang, and the player everyone is expecting will soon win, Chen Siming.
 
Taiwan brought its usual high powered contingent across the Strait and, based on today’s results, you can almost guarantee at least one Taiwanese player will appear in Saturday’s semi-finals. Chou Chieh Yu, Tsai Pei Chen and Tan Ho Yun all won their first rounds matches. The biggest surprise for Taiwan was the quick exit of last year’s runner up Lin Yuan-Chun, who lost two straight.
 
Hall of Famers Karen Corr and Allison Fisher won easily, as did the Philippines Rubilen Amit. The Philippines Iris Ranola was sent home after losing two straight. But the Philippines still has two players left with the addition of 15 year old Chezka Centeno. Centeno came to Guilin with her mom and dad and entered one of the qualifiers, which she won. She lost her first match today, but rebounded with a solid 7-4 over Poland’s Katarzyna Wesolowska, to get one more chance on Thursday.
 
Korea’s Yu Ram Cha, who is treated like a movie star in China and is followed by camera toting fans everywhere she goes, got taken to school by Corr but easily won her losers side match to survive. Fellow Korean Ga Young Kim, one of the favorites to take the title here this week, also won.
 
In all, 12 players have already been handed their pink slips. By the end of Thursday’s play, the field will be down to the final 32, who will then play single elimination knockout, race to 9, alternate break. The semi-finals and final will be played Saturday.
 
With so many great women players from all over the globe doing battle on the cloth pitch, there is bound to be plenty of heartbreak, tension and  near misses to come. Nobody ever waltzes to the winners circle in pool. In fact, a trip to hell is par for the course in this sport.  After her first round win over Fisher today, Jeanette Lee called it perfectly, noting that pressure and tension is something all players, including the eventual champion, have to take to heart.
 
“There’s a lot of first round jitters,” Lee said. “It’s the same for everyone I know. You always hope to have an easy match your first round. But I never want to win a tournament without having to play all the best.  I don’t want to win a tournament because I got a good draw.  I want to have to battle beast after beast. I want to play them all, maybe just not in the first round, maybe in the second round.  Once you know that your back is against the wall, this is the way it is, you better learn to like it.”
 
*The 2014 Women’s World 9-ball will be held in Guilin, China from October 13-18, and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool.  64 women players from across the globe will compete for the biggest prize in Women’s Pool.  
 
The WPA  will be on hand in Guilin throughout the week bringing you all the drama from the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship. WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner will be reporting with daily articles containing insight and analysis, as well as photos. Ted will also be manning the WPA Facebook page and Twitter feed and responding to fans queries and comments. Fans can also follow all matches via the WPA live scoring platform.   
 
Please visit the WPA Facebook page for the 2014 Women’s World 9-ball Championship here; http://www.facebook.com/pages/2013-WPA-Womens-World-9-ball-Championship/360470447416060?ref=hl 
 
Follow the WPA on Twitter:  @poolwpa
 
Visit the official website of the WPA at www.wpapool.com 
 
 
 
DAY 1 RESULTS
Group Stage, Round 1
 
Group A
Han Yu(CHN) 7 – 6 Chen Xue(CHN)
Gao Meng(CHN) 7 – 6 Park Eun Ji(KOR)
Yang Fan(CHN) 7 – 6  Chezka Centeno(PHL)  
Fu Xiaofang(CHN) 7 – 2 Katarzyna Wesolowska(POL)
 
Group B
Allison Fisher(GBR) 7 – 2 Sara Miller(USA)
Jung Bo Ra(KOR) 7 – 5 Jennifer Barretta(USA)  
Charlene Chai Zeet Huey(SIN) 7 – 5 Adriana Villar(CRC)
Chou Chieh Yu(TPE) 7 – 4 Wang Xiao Tong(CHN)  
 
Group C
Liu Shasha(CHN) 7 – 5 Kuo Azu Tinh(TPE)
Ana Mazhirina(RUS) 7 – 6 Li Yun(CHN)  
Joanne Ashton(CAN) 7 – 0 Neena Praveen(IND)  
Karen Corr(GBR) 7 – 1 Cha Yu Ram(KOR)
 
Group D
Tan Ho Yun(TPE) 7 – 2  Ine Helvik(NOR)
Caroline Roos(SWE) 7 – 5 Miyuki Kuribayashi(JPN)   
Wu Zhi Ting(TPE) 7 – 4 Ina Kaplan(GER)
Chen Siming(CHN) 7 – 0 Iris Ranola(PHL)
 
Group E
Rubilen Amit(PHL) 7 – 2 Suniti Damani(IND)
Hoe Shu Wan(SIN) 7 – 3  Line Kjorsvik(NOR)
Masami Nouchi(JPN) 7 – 3 Maureen Soto(CAN)   
Akimi Kajatani(JPN) 7 – 0 Daria Sirotina(RUS)
 
Group F
Pan Xiaoting(CHN) 7 – 4 Li Pei Rong(TPE)
Angeline Magdalena Ticaolu(INA) 7 – 2 Amanda Rahayu(INA)
Liu Shin Mei(TPE) 7 – 2 Kamila Khodjiaeva(BEL)    
Kim Ga Young(KOR) 7 – 4Kristina Schagan(GER)
 
Group G
Tsai Pei Chen(TPE) 7 – 3  Brittany Bryant(CAN)
Jasmin Michel(GER) 7 – 4 Erin McManus(USA)
Zhou Doudou(CHN) 7 – 3 Monica Webb(USA)
Wei Tzu-Chien(TPE) 7 – 5 Lin Yuan-Chun(TPE)
 
Group H
Wu Jing(CHN)  7 – 6 Denise Wilkinson(NZL)
Jiang Teng(CHN) 7 – 1 Bolfelli Barbara(ITA)
Chichiro Kawahara(JPN) 7 – 6 Jasmin Ouschan(AUT) 
Jeanette Lee(USA) 7 – 4 Kelly Fisher(GBR)   
 
LOSERS BRACKETS
Winners get one more chance, the loser is out
 
Group A
Chen Xue(CHN) 7 – 6 Park Eun Ji(KOR)
Chezka Centeno(PHL) 7 – 4 Katarzyna Wesolowska(POL)
 
Group B
Jennifer Barretta(USA)   7 – 1 Sara Miller(USA)
Wang Xiao Tong(CHN) 7 – 3 Adriana Villar(CRC)
 
Group C
Kuo Azu Tinh(TPE) 7 – 4 Li Yun(CHN)  
Cha Yu Ram(KOR) 7 – 1 Neena Praveen(IND)
 
Group D
Miyuki Kuribayashi(JPN) 7 – 6 Ine Helvik(NOR)
Ina Kaplan(GER) 7 – 6 Iris Ranola(PHL)  
 
Group E
Line Kjorsvik(NOR) 7 – 1 Suniti Damani(IND)
Daria Sirotina(RUS) 7 – 5 Maureen Soto(CAN)
 
Group F
Li Pei Rong(TPE) 7 – 3 Amanda Rahayu(INA)
Kamila Khodjiaeva(BEL) 7 – 3 Kristina Schagan(GER)
 
Group G
Brittany Bryant(CAN) 7 – 2  Erin Mcmanus(USA)
Monica Webb(USA) 7 – 4 Lin Yuan-Chun(TPE)   
 
Group H
Denise Wilkinson(NZL) 7 – 2 Bolfelli Barbara(ITA)
Kelly Fisher(GBR)   7 – 5 Jasmin Ouschan(AUT)

Two For The Money Rounds

Photos Courtesy Tai Chengzhe

(Beijing)–Now, the fun begins.

After three days of round robin group play, in which 25 teams from all over the globe dueled  in a veritable cavalcade of 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball, the 2014 World Pool Team Championship has been whittled down to the Final 16.

All matches from here throughSaturday will be single elimination, and you can bet your last Chinese Yuan that the tension and drama levels inside the Tongzhou Lhue High School arena in Beijing will be thick and hot. For not only are the teams playing for $300,000 in prize money-with $80,000 going to the winning side— they are also competing for national pride. There’s something about wearing your country’s flag and having the backing and support of your fellow countrymen and teammates that takes this sport to a whole other dimension.

Leading the way in terms of support will be both China sides, both of whom completely waltzed through their group unscathed all week.  But while the Chinese squads are certainly formidable on paper, they both have had absolutely no competition in their groups.

Each China side had what could be considered the easiest draws in the event.  Now, however, that will all change. And while China 1—with Li He Wen, Wu Jiaqing, Chu Bing Chia, Han Yu, and Chen Siming– and China 2—with Liu Haitao, Dang Ching Hu, Wang Can, Fu Xiaofang, and Liu Shasha– will probably advance at least to the quarters and perhaps further, it all comes with a caveat that other teams won’t have to deal with. The pressure from the home fans placed on both China teams will be massive.

The one team that won’t have to deal with that problem are the defending champions, Chinese-Taipei. The Taiwanese, featuring a powerhouse lineup of Chang Jun Lin, Ko Pin Yi, Hsu Kai Lun, Fu Che Wei, and female player Chou Cheih Yu, have been untouchable all week here in Beijing. They are playing in that quiet, smooth style that carried them to the title two years ago in this very same arena.  Today in their last match of the group stage, the Taiwanese went up against Korea, which was fighting for survival. Although Taiwan was already guaranteed a spot in the Final 16, they showed no mercy on the Ga Young Kim-led Koreans, winning the six-match showdown easily, 5-1.

Team Japan plays loose and stress freeAnother team that looks unbeatable right now is the Philippines. Dennis Orcollo, Lee Vann Corteza, Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit  have all the winning experience in the world to see themselves to the winner’s circle on Saturday. And they have been all business so far this week. Today the Philippines went up against a very formidable Poland side and basically toyed with the Poles, winning in a rout 6-0.

The Philippines could be looking at a potential quarterfinal matchup vs. Chinese-Taipei. Everyone and their brother expects the Philippines to get past Indonesia on Thursday. Chinese-Taipei, though, will have to buckle down as they will be banging heads with a very strong Austrian team.

Great Britain, featuring Daryl Peach, Chris Melling, Karl Boyes and Allison Fisher, have the fully loaded talent and moxie to make a serious run. Against Germany today, the Brits looked their usual top class and won the match 4-2, although both sides were guaranteed a spot in the Final 16 no matter who won. The Brits will play Vietnam in the Final 16 and are heavily favored to advance to the quarter-finals. There they will probably meet up with China II which plays heavy underdog Sweden. Great Britain vs. China II promises some serious fireworks should it come to pass, as it most probably will.

One team that has flown under the radar but can definitely win this event is Japan. The Japanese are easily the loosest squad in this event, laughing and enjoying themselves on every shot. It has served them well in the past as they went all the way to the finals here two years ago before losing to Chinese-Taipei. Japan goes into their Final 16 match with  the USA a big favorite. The Americans squeaked into the Final 16 and haven’t played up to standard yet this week.

The winner of Japan-USA will play the winner of Germany-Russia, which will be a very close matchup.

All matches in the Final 16 will take place on Thursday, July 31 beginning at 1PM(GMT +8). The quarterfinals will be played at 6:30PM.

*The WPA is on hand in Beijing to bring fans around the world full updated coverage of the 2014 World Pool Team Championship. 

You can follow the World Pool Team Championship on our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/worldpoolteamchampionship.

The WPA is also on Twitter @poolwpa.

Or visit our website at www.wpapool.com

*The World Pool and Billiard Association(WPA) is the governing body of the sport of pocket billiards.

The Liado U Valley World Pool Team Championship is sanctioned by the WPA, The Multi-Ball Games Administrative Center of General Administration of  Sport, Chinese Billiard and Snooker Federation, Beijing Municipal  Bureau of Sport, Beijing Sports Federation.

FINAL 16
July 31, 1PM(GMT +8)

China 1 vs. Singapore
Poland vs. Croatia

Philippines vs. Indonesia
Chinese-Taipei vs. Austria

China II vs. Sweden
Great Britain vs. Vietnam

Germany vs. Russia
Japan vs. USA

Quarterfinals Begin at 6:30PM July 30(GMT +8)
Semi-finals will be played on Friday, 1PM and 6:30PM
Finals will be played on Saturday at 2PM 

FORMAT:  In each match between two countries, the two teams play each other in a set of six matches, all alternate break;  two races in 8 ball, two in 9-ball and two in 10-ball.  One 8-ball match is men’s scotch doubles, race to 6. The other 8-ball match is   a men’s singles, race to 6. In 9-ball, the teams   compete in a women’s singles, race to 8, and a men’s singles race to 8.  In 10-ball, the teams  play one mixed doubles match(scotch doubles),  race to 7, and one men’s singles match race to 7. The female player must play in the 10-ball mixed doubles match, and a 9-ball match.  No player is permitted to play more than two matches per session.

SHOOTOUTIf a match ends up 3-3 in the knockout stage, the winner will be decided by a shootout.   In a shootout the 8 ball is placed in the middle of the table down near the short rail,  level with the first diamond, while the cue ball is placed way down at the head string. The three men and one woman on each team take turns trying to pot the 8-ball in either far corner. All players  play in sequence and the team to score six hits first with a margin of two or more(6-4, 7-5, etc.) wins the match  and advances to the next round.

TEAMS

China 1—Li He Wen, Wu Jiaqing, Chu Bign Chia, Han Yu, Chen Siming
Singapore—Chan Keng Kwang, Aloyisus Yapp, Koh Seng Ann Aaron, Charlene Chai Zeet Huey, Toh Lian Han, Hoe Shu Wah

Poland–Karol Skowerski, Tomasz Kaplan, Mateusz Sniegocki, Katazyna Weslowska
Croatia—Josip Susnjara, Ivica Putnik, Marko Lisnic, Antonijevic Zrinka

Philippines–Dennis Orcollo, Lee Vann Corteza, Carlo Biado, Rubilen Amit
Indonesia—Bewi Simanjuntak M. Bewi, Rudy Susanto, Muhammad Fadly, Silvana

Chinese-Tapei—Chang Jun Lin, Ko Pin Yi, Hsu Kai Lun, Fu Che Wei, Chou Cheih Yu
Austria—Albin Ouschan, Tong He Yi, Jurgen Jenisy, Thomas Knittel, Jasmin Ouschan, Sandra Baumgartner

China 2—Liu Haitao, Dang Ching Hu, Wang Can, Fu Xiaofang, Liu Shasha
Sweden—Anreas Gerven, Marcus Chamat, Tomas Larsson, Caroline Roos

Great Britain—Daryl Peach, Karl Boyes, Chris Melling, Allison Fisher
Vietnam—Trung Le Quang, Tuan Nguyen Anh, Quan Do Hoang, Le Doan Thi Ngoc
 

Germany—Thorsten Hohmann, Ralf Souquet, Sebastian Staab, Ina Kaplan
Russia—Konstantin Stepanov, Ruslan Chinakhov, Andrey Seroshtan, Ann Mazhirina

Japan—Naoyuki Oi, Sasaaki Tanaka, Hayato Hijikata, Chichiro Kawahara
USA—Oscar Dominguez, Hunter Lombardo, Corey Deuel, Jennifer Barretta

RESULTS FROM DAY 3, GROUP STAGE

SESSION 1, 

Korea 4 – 2 New Zealand 
Indonesia 5 – 1 Malaysia 
China 1, 6 – 0 Hong Kong
Croatia 4 – 2 Sweden 
USA 5 – 1 Bulgaria
Austria 6 – 0 South Africa
Vietnam 4 – 2 Singapore
Philippines 6 – 0 Poland

Session 2  
Russia 5 – 1 New Zealand
Malaysia  4 – 2 India   
Great Britain 4 – 2 Germany
China 2, 6 – 0 Australia
Chinese-Taipei 5 – 1 Korea
Japan 6 – 0  Indonesia
China 1, 5 -1 Sweden
Croatia 3 – 3 Mongolia

Monica Webb takes the title in the Women’s Euro-Tour

Monica Webb

Monica Webb (USA) just won the Dynamic Billard Austrian Open Women Euro-Tour event in beautiful St. Johann/Pg., Austria, with a convincing 7:3 victory over favored hometown hero Jasmin Ouschan (AUT).
 
It has been Webb’s tournament from the very beginning. She played great throughout the whole event. Results like 7:4 over #2 ranked player Ana Mazhirina (RUS), 7:3 over #5 ranked Ina Kaplan (GER), 7:2 over multiple European and World Champion Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) and 7:3 against another multiple European and World Champion Jasmin Ouschan in the final demonstrated her domination in this event. Although being handicapped with a foot in plaster she performed better than ever in Europe. „I felt great in this event“, stated Webb after the match. „I have practiced a lot during the last months and I think it is paying off now“. When asked about her plans for the future, she answered with a smile: „I will definitely continue playing the Euro-Tour“.
 
Jasmin Ouschan’s way into the final was also quite impressive. Two victories over Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL) with 7:3 and 7:5 and a 7:2 victory over Line Kjoersvik (NOR) are among the impressive results from Ouschan.
 
The final match however was not Ouschan’s. She committed too many mistakes which was very unusual for Ouschan. For example, she left the 9-ball hanging over the pocket and missed several easy shots. Maybe the pressure to win on home soil is too big on her. However, her opponent benefitted from these mistakes. „I think I also had some luck in the right moments“, commented Webb modestly. But luck belongs to any sports and her performance here did not have too much to do with luck. She was simply better than the rest of the field. She is a very modest person and her victory is absolutely deserved.
 
 
 
Top 8 finishers Men’s Dynamic Billard Austrian Open 2014
 
Monica Webb (USA)
Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
Line Kjörsvik (NOR)
Veronika Ivanovskaia (GER)
Ana Mazhirina (RUS)
Claudia Kunz (SUI)
Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL)
Oliwia Czuprynska (POL)
 
Top Ten players Euro-Tour ranking
 
Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
Ana Mazhirina (RUS)
Caroline Roos (SWE)
Martine Christiansen (NOR)
Ina Kaplan (GER)
Jennifer Vietz (GER)
Nataliya Seroshtan (RUS)
Louise Furberg (SWE)
Sandra Baumgartner (AUT)
Ine Helvik (NOR)
This concludes the coverage from Alpina Wellness and Sports Hotel in Alpendorf, St. Johann/Pg., Austria. All results and more info can be found online at www.eurotourwomenonline.eu .
 
The event was hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation websitewww.epbf.com or contact the press office press@epbf.com.

Souquet and Ouschan win the Dynamic Billard North Cyprus Open

Ralf Souquet and Jasmin Ouschan

Ralf Souquet (GER) and Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) have won the titles at the Dynamic Billard North Cyprus Open Euro-Tour.
 
In the men’s division, Ralf Souquet played at his best. He took down great names like Ivo Aarts (NED) 9:0, Imran Majid (GBR) 9:3, Mieszko Fortunski (POL) 9:3 and in the final match Karl Boyes (GBR) with 9:4. The final match was dominated by Souquet from start to finish. A bit scrappy in the beginning, Souquet turned out to have the far better break shot than Boyes. He pocketed almost every time a ball on his break and ran out 4 racks without even allowing Boyes into the table. The Brit however had to struggle with his break shot. Most of the time, he came up dry with no ball down or not enough balls crossing the kitchen line. This situation was taken advantage of by Souquet without any mercy. The BCA Hall of Famer played up to his standard and rightfully took the final match with 9:4. "I did not have the best two weeks before at the European Championships", stated Souquet after the match. "I won a bronze Medal in 9-Ball and one in the team competition. Normally, I am aiming for more", he added. "I am happy that I found my game in the Euro-Tour and that I was able to perform on that level", mentioned the likable German.
 
The first 8 players in the men’s division were:
 
1. Ralf Souquet (GER)
 
2. Karl Boyes (GBR)
 
3. Chris Melling (GBR)
Mieszko Fortunski (POL)
 
5. Phil Burford (GBR)
Imran Majid (GBR)
Francisco Diaz-Pizarro (ESP)
Serge Das (BEL)
 
The Top Ten men in the Euro-Tour rankings are:
 
1. Nick Van Den Berg (NED)
 
2 .Niels Feijen (NED)
 
3. Phil Burford (GBR)
 
4. Karol Skowerski (POL)
 
5. Tomasz Kaplan (POL)
 
6. Mateusz Sniegocki (POL)
 
7. Albin Ouschan (AUT)
 
8. Konstantin Stepanov (RUS)
 
9. Mark Gray (GBR)
 
10. Chris Melling (GBR)
 
These new rankings after the Dynamic Billard North Cyprus Open determine the European participants for the Men’s World 9-Ball Championships in Qatar later this year. Nominated through the WPA rankings will be: Thorsten Hohmann (GER), Karl Boyes (GBR), Mika Immonen (FIN), Nick Ekonomopoulos (GRE), Darren Appleton (GBR), Chris Melling (GBR), Niels Feijen (GER), Ralf Souquet (GER) and Huidji See. Nominated through the European Championships will be: Jürgen Jenisy (AUT), Albin Ouschan (AUT), Mateusz Sniegocki (POL), Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) and Michel Barthol (CRO). Nominated through the Euro-Tour rankings will be: Nick Van Den Berg (NED), Phil Burford (GBR), Karol Skowerski (POL), Tomasz Kaplan (POL), Mark Gray (GBR), Daryl Peach (GBR), Radoslaw Babica (POL), Stephan Cohen (FRA), Mieszko Fortunski (POL), Alex Kazakis (GRE), Imran Majid (GBR), Andreas Gerwen (SWE), Ivo Aarts (NED), Mario He (AUT), Petri Makkonen (FIN), Manuel Gama (POR), Artem Koshovyi (UKR) and Bruno Muratore (ITA). Nominated through the European Senior Championships will be: Tom Strom (SWE).
 
These names are subject to confirmation by the EPBF.
 
In the women’s final, Jasmin Ouschan demonstrated her superiority over all other players. In a total of six matches, she only lost seven (7!) individual racks! She defeated Katrine Feijen (DEN) 7:1, Monika Margeta (SWE) 7:1, Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL) 7:1, Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) 7:3, Monica Webb (USA) 7:1 and Kristina Tkach (RUS) in the final match even with 7:0. "I always try and play my best game", said Ouschan after the match. "This time, I was really feeling good and I think that was the reason why I could perform with my best game".
 
The first 8 players in the women’s division were:
 
1. Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
 
2. Kristina Tkach (RUS)
 
3. Monica Webb (USA)
Ana Gradisnik (SLO)
 
5. Caroline Roos (SWE)
Kristina Zlateva (BUL)
Claudia Kunz (SUI)
Oliwia Czuprynska (POL)
 
The Top Ten women in the Euro-Tour rankings are:
 
1. Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
 
2. Anna Mazhirina (RUS)
 
3. Caroline Roos (SWE)
 
4. Martine Christiansen (NOR)
 
5. Ina Kaplan (GER)
 
6. Jennifer Vietz (GER)
 
7. Nataliya Seroshtan (RUS)
 
8. Louise Furberg (SWE)
 
9. Sandra Baumgartner (AUT)
 
10. Ine Helvik (NOR)
 
That concludes the coverage of the Dynamic Billard North Cyprus Open Euro-Tour for Men and Women.
 
All results and more info can be found on www.eurotouronline.eu . Videos of the event can be viewed by premium members at www.kozoom.com.
 
The event was hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.eurotouronline.eu or contact our press office press@epbf.com.

No one able to stop Feijen so far

Niels Feijen (NED)

Niels Feijen is on fire! After winning the 9-Ball European Champion title two days ago, he is now in the final 16 players of the Dynamic Billard North Cyprus Open Euro-Tour event. He had an epic clash with Albin Ouschan (AUT) in the round of the last 32 players. Feijen seemed to be unstoppable by Ouschan. After 8 racks, the scoreboard displayed 7:1 for Feijen. Then the tide seemed to turn in the match. Ouschan won a rack after Feijen gave him a good safety position but Ouschan luckily pocketed the 2-ball. That obviously gave him wind underneath his wings. Ouschan managed to pull a few racks back from Feijen. And „The Terminator“ seemed to be impressed by Ouschan’s comeback. 6:7 was the score after 13 racks. Then, Ouschan came up with a sloppy played safety shot. That was his end in the tournament. Feijen ran that rack and the next one to win this match with 9:6. He will now face Chris Melling (GBR) in the next round.
 
Other notable results from today include Manuel Gama (POR) ousting Darren Appleton (GBR) from the event with 9:6. Serge Das (BEL) had a close heads-up match with Daryl Peach (GBR). Das had the better end in his favor, winning the match with 9:8 over Peach. Young „Orange“ player Ivo Aarts (NED) also still has the chance to leave his footprints in the tournament. He defeated Babken Melkonyan (ROM) with 9:6 and will now have to deal with „grandmaster“ Ralf Souquet (GER) in the next round.
 
In the women’s Euro-Tour event, all-time favored player Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) won her match in the round of the final 16 players clearly with 7:1 over Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL). She will now face Wesolowska’s teammate Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) who eliminated Kateryna Polovinchuk (UKR) 7:1 in the next round. Kristina Zlateva (BUL) has a match with Monica Webb (USA) in the same round. Zlateva overcame Martine Christiansen (NOR) 7:3 while Webb destroyed Darya Sirotina (RUS) with 7:1. Caroline Roos (SWE) will play Ana Gradisnik (SLO) in the same round, just like Claudia Kunz (SUI) versus Kristina Tkach (RUS).
 
The Euro-Tour event will continue tomorrow morning at 10:00 am local time.
 
All results and more info can be found on www.eurotouronline.eu . LIVEStream of all 24 tables can be viewed at www.kozoom.com.
 
The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.eurotouronline.eu or contact our press office press@epbf.com.

Can Feijen Repeat It?

Niels Feijen

Defending Champion Niels Feijen (NED) is on his way to defend his title from last year in the 9-ball discipline. Today, he ended the hopes of Imran Majid (GBR) 9:2, Fabio Petroni (ITA) 9:4 and Ivica Putnik (CRO) 9:2. There was not a single match where his domination was in danger at all. He played rock solid and it will be tough for anyone to beat „The Terminator“ in this shape.

 

Feijen will play Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) in the quarter-final match tomorrow morning at 10:30 am local time. Stepanov had defeated Georg Hoeberl (AUT) 9:2, Roger Rasmussen (NOR) 9:2 and Chris Melling (GBR) 9:7 to book his seat for the match with Feijen. The other quarter-final matches in the men’s division will be played between Huidji See (NED) and Albin Ouschan (AUT), Mateusz Sniegocki (POL) and Ralf Souquet (GER), and Jürgen Jenisy (AUT) against Michel Bartol (CRO). Jenisy and Bartol can definitely be regarded as the dark horses in this tournament.

 

In the women’s division, defending Champion Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) is not less successful. She won her matches today over Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) 7:6, Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL) 7:3 and faces Wesolowska’s teammate Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) in the quarter-final tomorrow morning. Czuprynska had taken the better of Veronika Hubrtova (CZE) 7:2 and Marika Poikkijoki (FIN) 7:6. Anna Mazhirina (RUS) will have to deal with young upcoming star Kristina Zlateva (BUL) who eliminated Caroline Roos (SWE) 7:4 and Darya Sirotina (RUS) 7:6 today. The other quarter-final matches will be played between Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL) against Silvia Gaudino (ITA) and Tamara Peeters-Rademakers (NED) against Line Kjoersvik (NOR), last year’s runner-up.

 

In the wheelchair division, Fred Dinsmore (IRL) will meet Matt Duffy (GBR), Roy Kimberley (GBR) will face Emil Schranz (AUT), Kurt Deklerck (BEL) encounters Henrik Larsson (SWE) while Tony Southern (GBR) goes against Jouni Tähti (FIN). All quarter-final matches will be played at the same time, 10:30 am on Wednesday morning.

 

All results and more info can be found on www.epconline.eu. LIVEStream can be viewed atwww.kozoom.com.

 

The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.epconline.eu or contact our press officepress@epbf.com.

USA & Europe Falter on Judgement Day at The Worlds

New York City’s Emily Duddy gains more experience with each YALIN World Championship

Manila, Philippines-  After a highly successful Day 2 for the USA, the final Day 3 of the round robin proved to be disastrous for the western continents. Early favorites from Europe and North America were all eliminated at the end of the day and would fail to make the top half cut.   Dragon Promotions brings the greatest women's tournament in the world once more to the Philippines with the 2013  Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Championship!  This year's edition will take place October 28th – November 4th,2013  to luxurious Resorts World Manila, an upscale hotel and casino adding onto the dynamic atmosphere of the coveted championship.  An elite 48 world class lady pros, the best of the best from 20 countries, will attend the event to decide who is the World Champion. Matches will air live daily from 11pm – 8am EST on www.insidepool.tv  and broadcasted worldwide by ABS-CBN Sports and affiliates. 
 
American pro Kim White Newsome looked prime to qualify after her shocking 6-5 win over reigning World Champion Ga Young Kim of Korea. She led 2-1 over Russia's Mazhirina in a match where a win would put her through. Unfortunately she couldn't pull it off and the Russian would win the spot to Day 4 with a 6-3 decision.
 
Former #1 ranked Vivian Villarreal of Texas had an even harder pill to swallow. She was in Group 8, called the Group of Death because of being the hardest group in this year's Worlds. Villarreal maintained a winning record of 3 wins and 2 losses including her final match win over Venezuela. All she needed was China's former World Champion Xiaoting Pan to win over underdog Czuprynska of Poland, and Villarreal would be assured a spot. But Pan lost 6-5 and this put Villarreal out by a mere 1 game. 
 
On the other hand, USA's Emily Duddy rained on the parade of Sweden'd Caroline Roos who led at one tim 5-2. Roos only needed to win over Duddy to advance. Duddy had no chance to qualify as she had been winless, and somehow managed to win her final match 6-5 which was for morale, but left Roos out of the tournament. Korea's Yu Ram Cha was relieved as she was the beneficiary of Duddy's win (Cha had lost to Roos 6-0 the day before).  Good for the Asians but bad news for the West.
 
"I finally played a good match! I hope I can get the tape of that one", said Duddy.
 
Finland's Poikkijoki, Germany's Vietz, Belgium's Khodjaeva, and Norway's Helvik and Christiansen were all eliminated as well. 
 
Both Canadian pros Naomi Williams and Brittany Bryant also did not qualify.
 
Jennifer Barretta lost her final match on TV to Belgium's Khodjaeva in a poor performance. Barretta thought her World Championship run ended once more in futility, but was informed afterwards that she was in a 2 way tie which she actually won because she led in the number of games won. 
Misery turned into elation.
 
"I thought I was out. I really thought before the match that I was in a do or die situation to win. That's why I played so bad. The pressure with the lights, TV cameras, and hundreds of fans is something I still need to get used to. We just don't have enough tournaments in America to get ready for that. But I'm really happy and relieved that I made it through the round robin this year for the first time", said Barretta.
 
Barretta faces Rubilen Amit today at 12:00pm in a USA vs Philippines battle.
 
Www.womensworld10ball.com has complete group results.  
 
The YALIN Women's World Championship is a recognized World Title event by the WPA World Pool Association. 
 
The Yalin World Championships will be live streamed on www.insidepool.tv and sponsored by www.JBET.com , Official Table YALIN www.Yalin.cn , Official Cue is OB Cues, Official Balls by Aramith, Official Cloth Championship, Official Chalk Master by Tweeten Fibre, Official Magazine Pool & Billiard Magazine, Star Paper Corporation,  and www.BaseGameph.com .
 
The Women's World Championship is produced by Dragon Promotions and filmed by ABS-CBN Sports airing on BALLS, Studio 23, and a dozen other networks in countries worldwide. With massive media and global networks covering the Yalin Women's World 10-Ball Championship, it will continue as still the biggest and most watched women's billiard event in the world.